This House Behind A Bamboo Forest Reveals A Mysterious Cinema | Manila, Philippines

Summary

Sine Pop, established in 2020, is a unique cinema in Manila designed to support independent filmmakers. Architect Justin Guiab, along with Jondi De Guzman, created a space that embraces imperfection with its raw concrete and stone, aiming for humility and honesty. The cinema is discreetly nestled behind an old house in a bamboo forest, promoting a pedestrian-oriented, human-centered design. Features include a fallen tree as a bench, a gallery in the old house, and a 'black box' transition area. The 48-seat cinema uses common fabric for walls to ensure sound quality and comfort. The design philosophy centers on creating a contemplative, connected space that encourages visitors to find peace and relaxation.

Takeaways

• 🎥 Sine Pop was established in 2020 in Manila to provide a space for independent filmmakers and their audiences.
• 🏠 The design philosophy of Sine Pop emphasizes humility and honesty, avoiding a striking facade and aiming for a sense of disappearing into the environment.
• 🌳 The cinema is intentionally hidden behind an old house in a bamboo forest to promote a sense of privacy and security for visitors.
• 🛠️ The use of concrete, stone, and unfinished materials reflects the architectural choice to embrace imperfections and reduce additional costs.
• 🚶‍♂️ The design encourages a pedestrian-oriented and human-centered approach, with a focus on natural light and a reduction in automobile reliance.
• 🪟 Large panoramic windows frame the natural surroundings, creating a cinematic experience even before entering the cinema.
• 🪑 A fallen tree from a storm was repurposed into a bench, showcasing the integration of nature and design.
• 🚾 The toilets feature natural light and ventilation, with small bamboo gardens for a unique and refreshing experience.
• 🏡 The old house was repurposed with original materials preserved, creating a gallery and gathering space with high ceilings and natural ventilation.
• 🎨 The cinema's design, including a gap between the old and new structures and the use of common fabric, focuses on sound isolation and viewer comfort.
• 🌿 The space is designed to evoke a sense of calmness and connectedness, with natural elements and thoughtful architectural details.

Q & A

What was the primary purpose of creating Sine Pop in Manila?

Sine Pop was created in 2020 as a gathering space to support independent filmmakers and provide a venue for showing and watching independent films.

What was the design philosophy behind Sine Pop's architecture?

The design philosophy was to create a space with a sense of humility and honesty, using materials as they are without hiding imperfections, and avoiding a striking facade to blend in with the environment.

Why was the cinema at Sine Pop hidden behind an old house in a bamboo forest?

The cinema was hidden to avoid standing out and to create a sense of privacy and security, aiming to be a haven for introverts and to encourage visitors to use more sustainable transportation methods.

How did the architects, Justin Guiab and Jondi De Guzman, repurpose the existing structures on the site?

They decided to keep the main house and build the cinema behind it due to budget concerns, which led to a unique integration of old and new structures.

What was the significance of the curved wall built at Sine Pop?

The curved wall was built to provide a sense of privacy and security for the cinema, shielding visitors from the outside world and creating a more introvert-friendly environment.

How did the design of Sine Pop encourage a pedestrian-oriented and human-centered space?

The design aimed to discourage car parking in favor of bikes and public transportation, and included features like big panoramic windows to bring in natural light, creating a more human-centered and pedestrian-oriented space.

What opportunity arose from the fallen tree during the construction of Sine Pop?

The fallen tree from a storm was repurposed as a bench, allowing visitors to sit and listen to the sounds of the bamboo forest after watching a film.

How was the lounge area at Sine Pop designed to reflect the honesty and imperfections of the materials used?

The lounge area was designed by stripping off old paints and revealing original columns, keeping all the old materials as they were, including nails and imperfect shapes, to embrace the beauty in ugliness.

What unique features were included in the design of the toilets at Sine Pop?

The toilets were designed with lots of natural light and ventilation, and each toilet includes a small bamboo garden for a unique and calming experience.

How does the design of the cinema at Sine Pop address sound isolation and viewer comfort?

The cinema walls are 400 millimeters thick to isolate outside sound, and the use of common fabric for the wall behind the seats provides comfort, privacy, and allows sound from rear speakers to pass through without distortion.

What was the rationale behind limiting the number of seats in the cinema at Sine Pop?

The number of seats was reduced to below 50 to avoid the need for additional fire exits and sprinklers, simplifying the building requirements and maintaining the intimate and calm atmosphere.